Cohoes High School principal will not face criminal charges for ammo purchase

By Danielle Sanzone

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

COHOES -- The Cohoes High School principal who purchased about 500 rounds of ammunition for a .22 caliber gun on school property is not expected to face criminal charges, according to the city police chief.

Chief Bill Heslin said that an investigation is still wrapping up on the incident earlier this month involving principal Joseph Rajczak, which violated the district's code of conduct.

"I'm comfortable saying that there will be no criminal charges," Heslin said.

The police investigation, which started on May 9, found that there were no violations of penal law - just school policy, Heslin said.

"It will be up to the school district to determine what happens," he added.

The district's board of education president, V. Mark Pascale, said a meeting is taking place Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the middle school library for the board members to discuss "what did occur and what did not occur," said Pascale. "We'll talk about the appropriate response."

While the meeting will begin and end in public, the majority of the discussion will take place in executive session, since the issue is a personnel matter, he said.

"This was a breach of the code of conduct," Pascale continued. "We expect the students to abide by that code and all employees and administrators, who are held at an even higher standard."

On May 1, Rajczak was allegedly seen meeting a former student who works at a local sporting goods store. Heslin said he purchased about 500 rounds of .22 caliber bullets, which he apparently uses at area gun ranges.

The district spokeswoman said the purported transaction took place at 2 p.m., during school hours in the high school parking lot.

Heslin said, from their investigation, it seemed that no weapon was brought on school grounds.